Schwarzenegger and Obama??

For REAL?! hmm.... what's going on... is this just preliminary talks or what?...California is in a fucked up state. Our budget deficit is atrocious and it's definitely affecting everyday people. I'm especially upset with the recent news regarding the Cal-State system and the UC-system. This is definitely hard times and I worry about my seniors applying for college. As their teacher, I see how stressed out they are applying to college. They already do not have faith in themselves that they will get in. Now this big hit on education is a blow to them. Fack that! I even attended a UTLA meeting and learned that teacher's health benefits and salaries are threatened. So how the fuck are we supposed to pay for an increase in our co-pay while get a slash on our salary? Doesn't make sense...Thanks Arnold. Thanks. So is this "working with Obama" talks really true? OR does it just mean that he is willing to work with him? eh. Semantics. Guess we'll find out soon. In addition, I don't know about President-elect Obama's offer to Senator Clinton as Secretary of State.

Simply Wholesome

A health food store and restuarant.
4508 West Slauson Ave
LA, CA 90043
323.294.2144


Everyone should check out this healthy soul food spot off of Slauson in Los Angeles.
The food is definitely made with soul. The music is classic. If you like artists like Delfonics, Isley Brothers, Curtis Mayfield, etc. etc., this place is just for you. Not only is the food fresh, light, and delicious, the music definitely complements the whole entire satiated experience. You will leave full...but it's a good type of full. It's not the "sick to the stomach---I can't walk" type of full. It's the "Yum, I feel great and healthy and cultured" type of full. ha.

What I love most about this spot is that the folks who run the restaurant and health food store are genuinely friendly. They will go out of their way to welcome newcomers and instantaneously make you feel at home. They will actually ask for your name and make you feel like part of their family.

It feels really good to see community members owning and running their own businesses...and it's really good to see immediate community members patron the restaurant and health food store. It's just good to know that the money is circulated back to the community.... That's how it should be...

I think it's important to also have the health component integrated with the community. Especially if we look at the socio-economics & food politics behind fast food joint locations (usually in predominantly low-income, people of color neighborhoods), which virtually offers no other healthy alternative but for folks to purchase "affordable"--UNHEALTHY food.

Simply Wholesome not only is that healthy "alternative" but it also provides literature on herbs, diets, exercise, etc.... It provides folks natural care products as well. WHAT A HOLISTIC EXPERIENCE!


Try the Nubian Tacos. YUM!
Try the B-Hold Shake! YUM! YUM!

Yes we can!

1:54:30
Official finish time for the Half Marathon.

Personal Goal: To finish between 2:00:00: to 2:15:00

Mission accomplished...plus I did better than I had expected.


Post-marathon thoughts:

Running the half-marathon was a life-changing experience in many ways. But this life changing experience did not occur over one day... It was the actual training/process of preparation for the run that changed my life...

#1. I learned to eat and drink in moderation. The saying is true, "You are what you eat." Ever since I began to watch what I ate for the run, I felt so much healthier and lighter. I also noticed that my runs felt like I was simply gliding/flying through the city. Sounds all kinds of crazy, but that's the best way I can best describe it. In addition, the burn felt even better when I ran. I didn't feel sluggish. It definitely had to do with the fresh foods I was cooking.

Here's a few things I switched up on my eating habits:
A. I cooked more than ate out. By cooking, I had more control of what I ate because I was in control of deciding what to put in my dishes (more fresh veggies and lean meat)
B. FRESH VEGETABLE dishes. I realized I frequently bought fresh spinach, tomatoes, red onions, and green beans
C. Cut down on meat (especially red meat---I pretty much cut it out completely); I began to buy extra lean turkey as a substitute
D. Cut out sweets (well, almost completely); I substituted FRESH FRUITS (oranges and apples)---Vitamin C--gotta watch my health too!
E. Ate a lot of whole grains/whole wheat---bread, oatmeal, brown rice, pasta, etc.
F. Took multi-vitamins
G. Drank TEA: White-ginger & pomegranate Green Tea every morning and evening (Republic of Tea Brand from World Market)

I must say... after a month and a half, I felt renewed...I felt better...and had a bit more energy. I noticed that once the crazy meat and sugar was cut, I no longer felt like I was dragging my body when I ran.


#2: Mind over Matter

I truly believe anyone can run. Just like it is for everything in life, running is like 95% mental; 5% physical. I just kept telling myself that it will get easier.... and the more I trained...the more I made it part of my weekly habit, the easier it got. Next thing I knew, I was improving on my form and time.

I also found my form of meditation--running distance. I never understood the concept of meditation (free of thoughts) until I finally experienced it in my run.. Especially when i began to focus on the rhythm of my footsteps...I reached that point of meditation... It was cathartic...which was especially helpful during the stressful two months of teaching.

#3: Continue Healthy living
After the run, I felt a great sense of accomplishment. Like I could conquer the world or something (not in an imperialist kinda way).... Initially I wanted to binge eat (Oinksters, Big Tomy's, cookies, etc. etc.), but I felt the benefits of eating well...and it was a hard task to change the old eating habits. I did NOT want to just throw it all away. It's so easy to get back to the habit of eating nesty! Instead, I want to eat in moderation.

Overall, this experience was a challenge of the self.... A self-refinement---of mind, body, soul (cheesy, but true).
It goes beyond the run...

Few pics. before the run and after the run:


Pickin' up the bibs








Eating carne asada fries and a california burrito with mom, inang, and sister

7 Years

2001: My first year as an undergrad at UCLA. I was just one click away from sensual feelings.

But then I stopped. I thought to myself, how am I going to get there??? I don't know anyone who can drive me from campus to heaven. Plus, I didn't want to get into any bus or taxi in LA at the time (give me a break, I just came from isolated suburban/rural Riverside...public transpo is NOT a norm over there).

So I figured, eh. He'll come back soon. I'll catch him again.

One year passed me by...

Second year passed me by...

Third year passed me by...

FACK!!!

Fourth year passed me by..

and then.

I gave up.
I regretted that day in 2001.

2008: 7 years since he was here....

MAXWELL AT THE SHRINE!!!! NOVEMBER 1ST.
The best effen show ever.
The eruption of women as they screamed for Maxwell on the floor made the whole entire Shrine auditorium VIBRATE. No joke.

And when he entered with "Get to Know Ya.." IT WAS OVER!

And just as I imagined, PANTIES DROPPED AND WERE THROWN ONTO MAXWELL. (Wish I threw mines...or hell, wish I threw myself onto him!)

But what really got me was his encore performance... WHENEVER WHEREVER WHATEVER... It was such a beautiful version----the sound of hearbeats... wow. I was blown away.

The lighting was beautiful too... I loved the contrast between him "sepia" (ha) and the blue....

Check out the video CG and I captured (that white "towel" on his behind is actually some big mama's underwear. lol)


I LOVE HIM. Best show in 2008. Now I just have to find out where in LA Maxwell lives.

PS... I love how Maxwell has some swagger. NIIICE.

Obama-hood

I wish I can take credit for discovering this video, but I must give credit where it's due. Thanks C to the G for sharing this hilarious, creative, and fun video.

"Vote Obama" by TI$A (Kanye West, Jay Z, Travis Barker, Shepard Fairey) @ Yahoo! Video

The World Breathes Again

New Delhi, India


Kogelo, Kenya (Obama's Step Grandmother)


Indonesia


Manila, Philippines


The World Breathes Again

It’s amazing how emotional this election was. It’s amazing how one was able to capture the hearts and minds of the world. I know he is not the first. I know he comes after those who paved the way for him. But I know he is the first in my lifetime to move millions of people, and I am one of those millions.

I was fortunate enough (thanks to Anneli), to have been able to experience the sunrise at the Hyatt. It was an exhilarating feeling to share the moment we’ve all been waiting for all our lives: the announcement of President-elect Barack Obama. The entire room erupted with elation. It was insane! Everyone danced in pure happiness and hugged strangers. It was at that moment that nothing seemed to matter----the prejudices people had of others…..the “natural” segregation of communities based on “likeness” seemed to have disappeared at that moment, and we felt the oneness… We all just wanted to share happiness together. He sure knows how to bring a cross-section of communities together.

Unfortunately, that feeling of “oneness” and “prejudices aside” was sucked away at the discovery of the passage of Prop. 8. And to think I was naïve to believe that people would just know better by now that Prop. 8 is an outright discriminatory measure and that it would not gain enough support to pass. Unfortunately, we can’t “win it all” huh? But I guess in some way Obama’s election gave us another wind of strength and hope to fight this injustice.


I flash back to the beginning of this school year. One of the very first introductory units to World History was on democracy. I recall asking my students to write a 1-2page essay on several essential questions throughout the unit, “What is democracy? What type of government structure do you think we have? Is it working? Why or why not?”

After reading all 100+ papers, I was disheartened and angered. I was disheartened and angered because most of their responses spoke of their truth. And their truth goes something like this:

“I don’t know much about the government, but I can tell you about
my experiences here. I don’t think the government cares about us, only
the rich whites. I wish the government can help the immigrants and
understand that we are not here to cause trouble. We are here to make
life better for ourselves. I don’t think it’s fair that some of us work
really hard and we still barely make enough to pay the bills. I think
our government could be better.”


These common responses made me think: Damn, they really don’t have any faith or trust in the government. They are really jaded. They have no hope in their government. And to be honest, I don’t blame them.

Now I fast forward to Election Night. I’m standing in front of the big screen as I listen to President-Elect Obama deliver his acceptance speech. And as he opened up:

Hello, Chicago.

If there is anyone out there who still doubts that
America is a place where all things are possible, who
still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive
in our time, who still questions the power of our
democracy, tonight is your answer.


It hit me. Could this be the hope and change that my students have been longing for and screaming for in their papers? Could this be the time in which they can restore their faith in this government?

And after the acceptance speech was said and done, and as Anneli, Aylene, Marking, and I walked back to the car in the sharp crisp cold air, I felt a sense of renewal. I felt a sense of new beginnings. And I felt nothing but genuine goodness around me.

The world breathes again.
And they too smiled and cheered when Obama was announced the next President of the United States.